[725 words]
The concept of sin has all but disappeared from modem society. We have become quite skilled in justifying our sins. It seems we can always find an excuse or a scapegoat to blame for, and excuse, our bad behavior. One of the most popular ways to do this nowadays is by dismissing our disobedience by blaming an addiction or syndrome of some kind. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (Third Edition, Revised) lists the following “disorders:”
Conduct Disorder: “a persistent pattern of conduct in which the basic rights of others and major age appropriate societal norms or rules are violated.”
Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD): “a pattern of negativistic, hostile, and defiant behavior.”
Histrionic Personality Disorder (HPD): “a pervasive pattern of excessive emotionality and attention-seeking.”
Antisocial Personality Disorder (APD): “a pattern of irresponsible and antisocial behavior beginning in childhood or early adolescence and continuing into adulthood.”
I myself suffered from all of these so-called disorders at times when I was a child. Yes, I was a bit of an ODD child sometimes! Nor did I know my parents were such master psychologists! They knew just how to cure my “conduct disorder” and it usually involved the liberal application of my dad’s belt to my bottom! That was also a guaranteed cure for my HPD and APD too!
Now none of this should be taken as a criticism of legitimate psychiatry, especially when it is done from the perspective of a Christian counselor. Nor do we deny that mental illness is a real medical problem. But we do deny humanistic, evolutionary psychology which denies sin and human responsibility for the same!
And all too often that is just what happens. People are told they are not truly responsible for their sinful choices; they are sick or have an addiction or a syndrome of some kind. The bogus disorders listed above are an example. In other words, we have a ‘syndrome’ syndrome!
The Bible exposes such self-serving lies about human sinfulness. The apostle Paul declared unequivocally, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Rom. 3:23). Since “sin is the violation of the law” (l John 3:4, KJV), and every accountable human being has violated God’s law, then we all stand condemned as spiritual criminals in the court of heaven! The punishment is eternal condemnation in hell (Rom. 6:23).
Adam and Eve tried to blame each other, God, and the serpent for their sin, but God would not listen to their excuses and punished them accordingly (Gen. 3:8-19). Aaron (Ex. 32:21-24), King Saul (1 Sam. 15:13-15), and the Jews in Babylonian Captivity (Ezek. 18:1-3) all likewise tried to play “the blame game” and pretend they were victims instead of sinners, but they too had their objections overruled by the Almighty and were judged by Him accordingly.
God said through the prophet Ezekiel, “The soul who sins shall die. The son shall not bear the guilt of the father, nor the father the guilt of the son. The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him” (Ezek. 18:20). The apostle Paul taught, “For we must all stand before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad” (2 Cor. 5:10). On that great day, God will no more accept our excuses than He did any of the others mentioned above.
The only cure for sin is the blood of Christ and His divine prescription is written in the Bible. “For I have no pleasure in the death of one who dies,” says the LORD God, “Therefore tum and live!” (Ezek. 18:32). To those convicted of their sins by the gospel and who cried out to the apostles asking what to do to be saved, the Bible declares, “Then Peter said to them, ‘Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins…” (Acts 2:38). Let each of us take responsibility for our sins and seek the mercy and forgiveness of our Maker. Let us not play the blame game with God nor become victims of the syndrome syndrome!
Travis L. Quertermous
Dexter Church of Christ
Dexter, MO